PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alex Karelin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rulon Oboev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rulon Oboev is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Karelin
vs
Oboev

192 cm
22
273 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
21
264 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Karelin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rulon Oboev!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Vladimir Khabensky and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karelin closes the distance and clinches up with Oboev, looking for a takedown. Karelin pushes Oboev against the cage but Oboev circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Karelin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Oboev is fending him off so far but Karelin persists. Nope, Oboev circles away and we're back to standing.
A clash of legs there as Oboev blocks the low kick.
Karelin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Oboev's waist but Oboev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Karelin off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Karelin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Oboev looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Oboev prevents Karelin from improving his position.
Oboev tries to pass the half guard into mount. Karelin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Oboev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Oboev trying to pass the guard but Karelin defending well.
Karelin trying to control from the bottom.
Karelin wants to get back to full guard.
Oboev tries to pass the half guard into mount. Karelin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Oboev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Karelin tries to clinch but Oboev moves out of range.
Karelin misses with a hook. Oboev ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karelin misses with a takedown

and Oboev counters with a takedown into side control.
Karelin gets back to half guard.
Karelin trying to control but Oboev postures up.
Karelin is refusing to be controlled, as Oboev sits in half guard.
Karelin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Oboev is looking for a kimura here.
Karelin wants to improve his position but Oboev is controlling well.
Karelin is working hard here to advance position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Oboev throws a nice looking combination but Karelin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Karelin as Oboev shoots in.
A jab from Karelin misses.
A head kick misses from Karelin.
Karelin blocks a head kick by Oboev.
Karelin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
No joy there for Oboev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Karelin gets caught flat footed, as Oboev shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Karelin holds on and takes a little breather.

Oboev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Oboev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Oboev looks gassed!
Oboev is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.
Karelin is controlling Oboev's posture.
Karelin looking for a sweep. Not yet Karelin, not yet.
Karelin seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Karelin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Karelin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin pulls Oboev in close to his closed guard and prevents Oboev from doing any damage or advancing position.
Oboev trying to control the position from guard on top but Karelin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karelin has control of Oboev's left arm, preventing Oboev from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Karelin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Oboev wants to control from the top but Karelin keeps moving.
Karelin pulls Oboev in close to prevent any damage.
Karelin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Karelin tries to get out of the position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Alex Karelin just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Karelin with a lazy takedown attempt

and Oboev counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Karelin throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Oboev drops back looking for a leg! Karelin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Karelin manages to kick Oboev off! Oboev jumps back into Karelin's guard.
Karelin keeping moving, preventing Oboev from controlling successfully.
Oboev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karelin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Karelin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Oboev manages to get himself to full guard.
Karelin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Oboev keeping moving, preventing Karelin from controlling successfully.
Karelin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Oboev is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Karelin stays in close to Oboev's body and controls the position.
Karelin's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rulon Oboev dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Karelin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Oboev counters with a nice double leg into side control. Karelin won't be happy with that.
Karelin tries to improve position but can't.
Oboev content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Rulon Oboev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Karelin keeping his opponent close.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Alex Karelin just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Karelin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Oboev counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Karelin's guard now.
Karelin is trying to keep Oboev in close.
Oboev trying to control the position from guard on top but Karelin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Oboev drops back looking for a leg! Karelin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Karelin manages to kick Oboev off! Oboev jumps back into Karelin's guard.
Karelin keeping full guard, as Oboev tries to pass.
Karelin is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Oboev is breathing heavily.
Karelin looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oboev trying to control but Karelin is working from the bottom.
Karelin lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Oboev!
Karelin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Karelin seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Oboev for as long as he can get away with.
Karelin lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Karelin looking to secure an arm triangle but Oboev defends it well.
Oboev is in a horrible position here. Karelin smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karelin controlling the position easily from mount.
Karelin tries to control but Oboev wriggling away.
Karelin looking to finish Oboev with some ground and pound. This is bad for Oboev!
Karelin controlling the position easily from mount.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Alex Karelin just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Karelin with a poor takedown

so Oboev counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Karelin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Oboev thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Karelin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Karelin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Oboev's guard.
Karelin wants to control from the top but Oboev keeps moving.
Karelin wants to pass the guard but Oboev is keeping the position.
Oboev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin trying to control the position from guard on top but Oboev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karelin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Karelin trying to control but Oboev is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Karelin misses with an uppercut

and Oboev counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Karelin's guard now.
Oboev preventing the sweep.
Karelin managing to control the position.
Karelin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Oboev is one step ahead there.

Oboev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Oboev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Karelin looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oboev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Karelin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Karelin looking to control.
Oboev pushing down on Karelin's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Karelin desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Karelin wants to control but Oboev is keeping busy.
Karelin wants to improve his position but Oboev is controlling well.
Karelin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Karelin.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Oboev trying to control but Karelin is working from the bottom.
Karelin looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Oboev puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Oboev wants to free his trapped foot but Karelin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rulon Oboev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Karelin is looking to chop away at Oboev's legs.
Karelin with a poor takedown

and Oboev counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Karelin's guard now.
Karelin working a defensive guard here.
Karelin doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Karelin pulls Oboev in close to prevent any damage.
Oboev won't allow Karelin to sweep him here.
Karelin trying to control the position here.
Karelin trying to keep a closed guard but Oboev is proving a slippery customer.
Oboev won't allow Karelin to sweep him here.
Oboev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Karelin is keeping the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Karelin tries for a takedown but Oboev circles away easily

and Oboev counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Karelin!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Karelin holds on to Oboev around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Karelin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oboev fails to advance to Karelin's back.
Karelin really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Karelin is squirming around, avoiding Oboev's attempts to control the action.
Karelin manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Oboev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Karelin wants to get back to full guard.

Oboev is working for a submission of some sort.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Karelin preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Karelin is refusing to be controlled, as Oboev sits in half guard.
Karelin is doing well to control the position and prevent Oboev from advancing to side control.
Karelin trying to control here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Karelin moves out of range of the body kick from Oboev.
Karelin misses with a straight right.

Karelin instigates a clinch.
Karelin avoiding damage.
Karelin prevents a takedown attempt there.
Oboev tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karelin stalling the fight.
Karelin managing to block the knees to the body from Oboev.
Oboev fails to pull guard.
Karelin goes for a takedown attempt but Oboev pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alex Karelin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karelin fails with the takedown

and Oboev counters with a single leg into guard. Karelin didn't expect that.
Karelin trying to keep a closed guard but Oboev is proving a slippery customer.
Karelin has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Alex Karelin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Karelin trying to control the position.
Karelin is pulling down on Oboev's head to control his posture.
Karelin looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Alex Karelin just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Oboev misses with a takedown attempt - Karelin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Karelin gets a clinch.
Oboev is pressed up against the cage. Karelin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Oboev down to the mat. Oboev avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Karelin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Karelin shoots and misses

and Oboev counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Karelin trying to control here.
Karelin works his way to full guard. Good work.
Karelin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Oboev manages to get himself to full guard.
Karelin looking to sit in guard and control but Oboev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Oboev slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Oboev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Karelin has escaped the position, nice work there.
Karelin manages to work his way to half guard, despite Oboev's best efforts.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rulon Oboev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Oboev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rulon Oboev!